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Dimbola Celebrates "Lifebelt" Arts Council Funding

The Julia Margaret Cameron Trust, of Dimbola Museum and Galleries, has been awarded £41,670 by the Arts Council’s Emergency Resource Support Fund.

The grant money will ensure Dimbola, the Freshwater former home of Julia Margaret Cameron, will be able to host workshops and other educational and entertaining events for the new season.

Funds have been allocated to employ essential staff and make improvements to the shop, library, darkroom and front hallway.

There will also be upgrades to collections of historic cameras, while a London academic will be revamping the Julia Margaret Cameron galleries.

Julian Bell, president of Dimbola, who is Julia Margaret Cameron’s great-great-great nephew said:

“A feisty, imaginative independent in the museum world keeps its head above water through two horrendous years.

"The people who look after our arts nationally throw it not just a lifebelt, but the warm and welcome shelter of extra staffing and a property upgrade.

"Courage is answered by generosity, and for once, we can truly all feel good!”

Dimbola hosts two permanent exhibitions — one for Julia Margaret Cameron and her pioneering photographic work, and one of the Isle of Wight Festivals — 1968 to 1970 and 2002 to the present day.

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